THE man who judges of God by Creation finds it an insufficient revelation; it tells out something of His power and goodness, and something of the Fall. He who judges of God by His providential dealings will often be mistaken, and be wondering why God does not interfere with this or that. Jesus alone is “The Faithful Witness.” He ever witnessed of God’s grace to sinners. God’s purpose was most faithfully witnessed to by Jesus, when He was accused of eating and drinking with publicans and sinners. Jesus shrank not from bearing the reproach for us, but how often we shrink from being reproached for Christ!
God was faithfully witnessed to by Jesus, when He took little children up in His arms― “For of such is the kingdom of heaven.” He witnessed for God when the adulteress was brought to Him, in exposing the hidden sin of the hypocrites who accused her, and chewing mercy to her as soon as she stood self-condemned. Man always hires for himself those who possess a good character, but Jesus sought for and accepted those who were cast out―the blind man, &c. In whatever circumstances man stood, Jesus was the “Faithful Witness.” He was not secluded in a palace, but walked about, just giving God’s thoughts about all.
It is exceedingly humbling to know Jesus as the only Faithful Witness to test ourselves by. “How would He have acted in every condition?” This is very humbling. Jesus witnessed that God never expected any good from anything here. The man said, “Good Master.” The Lord knew he was applying men’s thoughts of goodness to Him: he was not judging any one, or himself, in the light. The Lord touches the spring that discloses to the man himself―that he has a hidden god. “Sell all, and give.” No, his heart had another god.
John the Baptist was faithful in a measure. He came seeking for righteousness, and, as he could not get it among men, he went out into the wilderness―a plain proof that righteousness was not to be found. Jesus came not to seek righteousness, but to show grace; therefore He could come into the haunts of men, for He came to manifest grace. You can never get into a condition too bad for Christ to come into. However low, however fallen, He can come to you; not to keep you there, but to help you out, for forgiveness wins the heart, as well as clears the conscience. We ought not to be under Satan’s power, for we are one with the Lord, and He has overcome Satan. He met him in his stronghold, even in death. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through sufferings; but let us remember that Christ met Satan in death, and triumphed over him in resurrection.
If I walk in the flesh, of course Satan gets power over me; for walking in the flesh is neither death nor resurrection. What a triumph over Satan, to present man to God in an altogether new position―risen! I must keep in that posture, or Satan gets claiming is e. If I simply believe this, God seals me with His Spirit—sealed, for how long? “Until the day of redemption.” We should take God’s word simply. Some people say, “I want to be more meek, gentle, &c., then I shall be happier.” The Lord puts the varieties of the fruit of the Spirit in their right place, when He says, first “love, joy, peace,” afterward “gentleness,” &c.; for the fruit of the Spirit is not the result of my work, but of Christ’s work. If I believe this work of Christ, that He must have done all for man could have done nothing, (a dead thing could not have given itself life,) the Spirit takes up His abode in me, and the fruit of the Spirit flows out. When Christ is presented to you, do your hearts respond in happy unhesitating confidence, “To Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,” &c.? You must come to this, if you see yourselves vile; and if you do not see this, it is because you are seeking to hide your sins from yourselves. You cannot hide them from God; so the sooner you know your own nothingness the better, for then you will speedily learn God’s all-sufficiency, through the work of His dear Son, as taught by His Spirit.
SANCTIFICATION. ―What a word is that, “He that sanctifieth”―and again, “that He might sanctify the people with His own blood”―again, “we are sanctified through the offering,” &c. What virtue is there in HIM, and in His BLOOD, that the whole elect of God should be both saved and sanctified―cleansed and consecrated to God! And if He so felt our sins when bearing them for us before God, surely He must now rejoice in presenting us before the Father holy and without blame in Himself. (Heb. 9:24; 4:1424For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24)
14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14); Ex. 28:12, 29, 3812And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial. (Exodus 28:12)
29And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. (Exodus 28:29)
38And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. (Exodus 28:38).)